The i3 Group's Fibrecity project, which is already offering "super-fast" 100Mb Fibre-to-the-Home ( FTTH ) fibre optic broadband ISP services in the south coast city of Bournemouth (Dorset), has asked for residents who want to be connected to its next fibre optic network in Dundee (Scotland) to apply now and benefit from a FREE connection.

Work on its Dundee service has now begun and it will soon start connecting the first non-trial customers. Fibrecity's network currently aims to connect around 1 Million UK properties to its superfast network within the next four years, with Derby, Halton, Nottingham, Plymouth and York next on its list after Dundee.

"Now that all the planning and negotiations for the build of Fibrecity Dundee are concluded, it is important that residents that want to apply for a free connection do so quickly so that they don’t miss out.

Fibrecity Dundee will introduce more competition to the market. Its open access network will enable consumers to benefit from super fast broadband available through a choice of service providers.

No longer will people need to worry whether their service provider is misleading them about the broadband speeds that their network can support."

Will Dawson, Convener of Dundee City Council's Development Committee, added:

"This brings Dundee a step closer to becoming the first city in Scotland to have every one of its homes and business premises able to access next generation broadband.

Dundee is only the second city in the UK to have a Fibrecity network installed. These fibre to the home broadband connections will continue to cement our reputation as one of the top seven global intelligent communities.

Dundee City Council has been working with the i3 Group to plan this roll out and every council tenant will receive a letter from Fibrecity Holdings when their home is about to be connected."

Further cities under consideration for future Fibrecity networks include Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol and Ipswich. The i3 Group is also investigating the possibility of expanding out to cover smaller rural areas too, provided they can make the economics work.

Residents and businesses in Dundee can apply for a free connection to the Fibrecity Dundee network by either calling 0800 954 2020 or visiting a dedicated website, www.getreadydundee.com, where an application can be made online. Broadband upload and download speeds range from a minimum of 25Mbps to 100Mbps with boost of 'up to' 1Gbps. Prices tend to start at around £20-£25 per month, with phone and TV service options also being available.

The promising news comes despite i3's recent setback in Bournemouth, where the group was forced to abandon its plans for using the city's underground sewers after Wessex Water pulled out of the deal on technical and business-related grounds (full news). Other city deployments have not been affected.